The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Emergency spending for Hidden Valley flood response: The Board acknowledged a $4.3 million emergency procurement contract with Sierra Nevada Construction Inc. (SNC) to respond to the flash flood in Hidden Valley that occurred June 19, 2026. Impacted public assets included approximately 365,171 square feet of pavement, 14,857 feet of pipe, 8,009 feet of ditch, 58,411 square feet of detention basin and 105 catch basins. Delaying restoration work would have prolonged unsafe roadway conditions, reduced stormwater capacity and increased the risk of additional flooding and infrastructure damage during future storms.
SNC was one of the few contractors with immediate capacity, specialized equipment and relevant experience working within Washoe County’s stormwater and roadway infrastructure to support the emergency response.
2. Hawk Fire emergency declaration: The Board ratified Washoe County’s declaration of emergency for the Hawk Fire. County Manager Kate Thomas declared the state of emergency Aug. 22, an action necessary to ensure Washoe County can rapidly mobilize resources, streamline administrative processes and potentially access state and federal assistance as needed to address the impacts of the fire. The declaration remains in effect until the County Manager or Board determines that the emergency no longer exists or the threat has passed. At that point, the state of emergency will be terminated.
3. Employee health benefits: The Board voted to approve the 2027 Health Benefits Program, which included recommendations from Washoe County Human Resources and the Insurance Negotiations Committee (INC).
The Board approved the INC’s recommendation to add Sword Health’s Thrive, Bloom and Pulse programs for PPO and HDHP members beginning Jan. 1, 2027. These new virtual health programs will provide health plan members with convenient, personalized support for musculoskeletal care, women’s health and cardiometabolic health at no cost to members. The programs are designed to provide resources, care and support that members can access from home, work or wherever they are.
The Board also approved Human Resources staff’s recommendation to discontinue the fully insured HMO-style health plan, Surest, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The decision follows several years of efforts to preserve the plan as a sustainable option. The proposed 2027 renewal reflected an approximately 40% premium increase, with similar increases reflected in proposals from other carriers.
Lower-cost alternatives were also evaluated; however, those options would have required significant reductions in benefits, higher employee costs and/or narrower provider networks. After reviewing the available options and discussing them with the INC, it was determined that neither accepting the significant premium increase nor substantially reducing the plan’s value simply to continue offering it represented an appropriate long-term solution. The INC also expressed support for this approach.
Employees will have the opportunity to select either the PPO or HDHP during Open Enrollment, Oct. 26 through Nov. 20, 2026, for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2027. The Human Resources Benefits team will provide additional information and support throughout Open Enrollment, including webinars, an in-person Open Enrollment event, plan comparisons and other enrollment resources.
4. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting: The Board acknowledged Comptroller Cathy Hill and her office for receiving recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the County’s FY 25 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is given to government entities whose annual comprehensive financial reports achieve the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the County’s financial story. This is the 44th consecutive year the Comptroller’s Office has received this honor.
5. Northern Nevada Public Health update: Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) District Health Officer Dr. Chad Kingsley presented the agency’s Q1-Q2 2026 Jurisdictional Report to the Washoe County Commission, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect and improve the health of residents across the region.
During the first half of the year, NNPH continued disease surveillance and prevention efforts, environmental health inspections, air quality monitoring, immunization and maternal-child health programs, and emergency preparedness activities. The report also highlighted NNPH’s response to the Hawk, Bug and Stallion fires, including coordinating evacuations and the repopulation of health care facilities, inspecting shelters, supporting food and water safety during outages, assisting with debris abatement and land management, and replacing food lost by WIC evacuees.
NNPH will continue to focus on respiratory-season preparedness, disease surveillance, sustainable funding and public health services through the remainder of 2026.
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